English version

23rd - 29th November

More of the same. The main event in this volume is Nakai's effort to reignite his manga career after a major setback. I was actually a bit concerned by the portrayal of Nakai in this book. The story essentially treats him as making a heroic effort to convince Aoki to give him a second chance as her co-creator. And to an extent that's true, but he's also locked in a completely one-sided crush on Aoki, and that adds worrying elements to this. The thing is, he's obsessively pressuring Aoki to accept him, motivated by a messy mixture of romantic feelings and desire for success as a manga team, and refuses to accept her decision to part. It's not easy to distinguish his actions (essentially guilt-tripping her, while making a big show of his manly humility and endurance) from just plain old being a stalker. He won't accept her decision, he's certain they could work out if she'd give him another chance, and he's sure that if he just proves to her how much he loves her cares about their work, she'll take him back. And she does. I know that it's a story, and a boys' story at that where this kind of macho stuff is lauded. And I know that the line isn't quite as clear-cut in this case, because she's also his only real chance at artistic success. And I also know (having read the story before) that Bakuman will take a much firmer line with Nakai and his behaviour later in the series. Nevertheless, I felt like here it was a little dubious, and perhaps most because the reactions of the other characters were generally "he has to do this Man Thing" rather than anyone going "dude, you're sitting outside the house of a woman you fancy begging for another chance and hoping to soften her heart through suffering, that is not okay."

Afterword

I read 1 book this week, I had 65 last week, so 64 are left over. I have 14 books to read in 4 weeks.

English version

16th - 22nd November

This volume brings a welcome broadening of the cast, giving a broader (and perhaps more typical) range of manga artists to follow. It's a little heavy on the details of the industry, but to be honest I quite like that. The story hovers on the fringes of credibility, and I liked the way Yuujiro is humanised more in this story. From a learner's perspective, this is a bit hard to follow, not because of the vocab but because a lot of nuance regarding emotions, attitudes and probabilities is imparted through complex syntax. It's not necessarily a problem for following the story, but working out exactly how people feel about things is tricky. Kaya had lost a fair bit of her oomph this time, and turned into a bit of a tagalong. It's nice that she's invested in their struggles, but having her drop her own ambitions to be supportive didn't sit too well with me, despite the excuses. It feels like an editorial decision rather than a natural outcome of her character.

This is a short, simple book - almost a pamphlet really. It is written with irreverent formality, and although it takes a somewhat scholarly tone, I can almost hear the author recounting this all. I found it quietly moving, a small reminder of what it was like to be alive in 1944, and the everyday heroism and self-effacing endurance of so many ordinary people. It is surprisingly well-written, really bringing out a sense of place, especially for a local like me, and evoking the reality of the stories he shares. There is a lot of unspoken sadness in here, but also a lot of joy in the hard times shared with good friends, and in the sense of duty done. It even makes me feel a little wistful not to be part of that cameraderie - though I can only be glad I didn't have to. I was planning to send it to Oxfam (too many books), but I felt the need instead to respectfully shelve it. It was a little hard not to salute. This is, humbly and unobtrusively, the most moving thing I've read in a long time.

Afterword

I read 2 books this week, I had 67 last week, so 65 are left over. I have 15 books to read in 5 weeks.

English version

9th - 15th November

In this volume, there are three main themes: the difference between what you want to write and what can get published in a specific magazine; the importance of willingness to learn; and work-life balance. The artists run into their first major hurdle when, eager to get into publication with unbecoming haste, they try a radical shift in style to something more populist. I was pleased to see that this was presented as a genuine obstacle, and not something to be shrugged off. Meanwhile, Shuujin's relationship causes tension with Saiko, who struggles to grasp the idea that manga might not be Shuujin's exclusive focus. The interplay between the characters always pleases me; here it brings out the way priorities change rapidly during adolesence, and the struggle to come to terms with those changes. I like Kaya's sensitive, yet determined attitude to getting together with Shuujin, in the face of Shuujin's unthinking self-absorption.

Afterword

I read 1 book this week, I had 68 last week, so 67 are left over. I have 17 books to read in 6 weeks.

English version

2nd - 8th November

A good solid volume with lots of development. I like Shuujin's rather strange relationship with Kaya, a mixture of attraction, companionship and competitiveness - it has some verisimilitude to it that reminds me of schoolfriends' relationships that often left me puzzled. In truth, it's vastly more interesting than Mashiro and Miho's far weirder relationship built on lofty ideals.

There's lots of insight into the industry in this volume, which can get a bit heavy. It nicely showcases the challenges of even trying to get into manga, and how this emotional rollercoaster grows even more exaggerated in the hands of idealistic teenagers with unrealistic ambitions.

A delightful little book about the joys of worms, with the charming illustrations I expect from an Ahlberg book. Though the whole thing is sheer nonsensical whimsy, there are some particularly bizarre entries that really put a smile on my face. Of course, a child reading this could be in for some serious disappointment if they take it as truth! A little mouthful of fun.

A thoughtful exploration of family, growing up, sexual awakening and different kinds of love. In this second book, Ehwa is becoming more aware of her sexuality and becoming less of a child, more of a young woman. The actual romance arc is quite fast, as the book seems to compress time quite a bit, but its gentle tone prevents it feeling rushed. The loving, deep conversations between Ehwa and her mother actually form most of the story as they explore the concepts of romantic love and marriage.

Afterword

I read 3 books this week, I had 71 last week, so 68 are left over. I have 18 books to read in 7 weeks.

26th October - 1st November

A very solid collection (as you'd expect from a "best of") from a very good author. The stories range across a wide scope of sci fi, and most have a fantastical quality, as well as a tone that sits somewhere between dark humour and wry stoicism. Quirky individuals are a recurring theme. Though the stories are mostly relatively hard science, all touch on the human element and some focus on that above all. Bester also throws in a couple of stories without any science at all, such as the titular Star Light, Star Bright and a rather cheery post-apocalyptic story.